According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2020, the typical American household spends $4,942 on food consumed at home. Due to this, it may be quite challenging for low-income households to put food on the table.
As an illustration, the federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt workers is only $7.25 per hour or $290 for a 40-hour work week or $15,080 annually. In addition, the typical Social Security payout is only $18,476.16 annually or $1,539.68 per month.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average SNAP benefit in the United States in the fiscal year 2021 was $218 per person per month. However, benefits vary by state and household size. The average benefit, however, increased by $36.24 as of October 1, 2021.
Clearly, SNAP benefits are important to a lot of individuals, but sadly, the program has a bad reputation. That shouldn’t be the case, according to Dr Edward Hernandez, a professor in Walden University’s Master of Social Work program.
No one ought to go hungry in a wealthy country, he declared. “A basic human right is the right to nourishment.”
He asserted that the significance of SNAP lies in the fact that it enables millions of individuals to buy the extra food they sorely require to maintain their health.
He explained that the level of help was closely related to household income. Many working families who need assistance with their nutritional needs receive SNAP benefits.
Despite the potentially life-saving advantages provided by SNAP, there are some myths about the program that is just untrue. Here are four persistent myths that Hernandez busted.
Myth: SNAP costs taxpayers money.
Although it’s a widespread misperception, Hernandez asserted that food stamps don’t cost taxpayers anything.
According to data conducted by Moody’s Analytics, for every $1 spent on SNAP benefits, approximately $1.73 worth of economic activity is produced. The additional funds injected into the system “maintain the viability of food suppliers, offer jobs in food production, support businesses, and keep people healthy.”
Myth: SNAP Benefits Only Available to Families
Though you might not think you qualify if you need food stamps, Hernandez said that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities make up around two-thirds of SNAP beneficiaries, he claimed. Due to rising costs and scarce resources, seniors on fixed incomes are under financial hardship.
It’s crucial to protect these advantages in case you require them, regardless of your circumstances.
He claimed that SNAP might mean the difference between eating well and having a difficult time finding adequate food. “Children are our future, and proper nourishment is one of the keys to their success,” the proverb goes.
Notably, many persons in the 18–50 age range are only eligible for three months of SNAP benefits every three years unless they are employed or enrolled in a program for work-related training for 20 hours per week. There are, of course, certain exceptions.
Myth: You Can’t Submit a SNAP Benefits Application Discreetly.
Because you don’t want people to judge you if you need food stamps, you could be reluctant to apply for aid.
Many eligible people have refrained from enrolling because they feel embarrassed about having to visit their local “welfare” office to collect SNAP benefits, according to Hernandez. However, the application process is now accessible online, and eligibility and verification can only be handled via phone.
According to him, using the benefits still requires discretion.
To eliminate associated stigma in a food shop, he added, beneficiaries are also given EBT cards that can be used like credit cards. These cards can also be topped off at an ATM, and photo cards are available to reduce fraud.
Myth: People use SNAP to pay for luxury goods and expensive meals.
There is a widespread belief that people abuse the system by utilizing food coupons for luxury. This isn’t true, according to Hernandez, who noted that SNAP payments can only be used to buy approved things.
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“Prepared meals and dining in restaurants are not allowed,” he stated. “While SNAP can be used to purchase a pricey steak, most recipients manage their benefits carefully.”
Many products you may assume would be covered by SNAP benefits, he claimed, are not.
“Notably, even though they are expensive and necessary, personal care items such as soap, detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste, deodorant, and other items are not eligible to be purchased with SNAP benefits,” he stated. “We can’t criticize a system that provides for the basic necessities of millions of people by the actions of a few inefficient users.”
